MN Guard helps Iraq Vets Leave Soldier Life behind:
http://www.dma.state.mn.us/press_room/e-zine/articles/index.php?item=1010
This is an article about a program to help soldiers ease into their return from the war. There comes a point in which soldiers are no longer familiar with civilian life and they need that extra support to make the transition. The Minnesota National Guard is trying to provide that service...
For Veterans Returning Home:
http://www.jmu.edu/counselingctr/Resources/veterans.html
James Madison University has a very helpful guide on their Counseling Center website about the transition that soldiers must make. It talks about the common feelings towards their life at war in comparison to that from at home.
Take the time to analyze these articles in relation to the novel, All Quiet on the Western Front. Here are some GUIDING questions (note: do more than just answer these questions).
- How might these kinds of programs/articles help Paul and his fellow soldier?
- Why does not every soldier participate in helpful programs like these?
- Having read this article, what would you do and say to help prepare a veteran returning to civilian life?
when paul signed up for the war he didnt know what he was geting into like the drunk soldiers. they were probly tramutized when they found out what they got them selves into.
ReplyDeleteThe programs could help them destress their lives after the war is over. some people dont perticipate in these programs because they dont want to go they miss their famileys and they want to go back and visit.
1)It might help them understand how to be kids again.
ReplyDelete2)Some soldiers might not feel like they need help, or that theres anything wrong with them. But later on down the road they might discover that they do have some serious problems.
3)Just to relax. if they get confused on what to do, watch other people. normally when your some where, other people do things the same way.
These articles will help them to understand that most soldiers in the war have the same problems that they are going through. They might think that since it has nonthing to do with them they do not need to help them get through their problems. That the mental problems they will go through are normal.
ReplyDeleteThese programs may help paul recover fom his situation with the frenchman he killed and watching kemmerich die. I think that soldiers have the stereotype that b/c of what they have been through they are brave and are men and do not need help when they do. I think that a veteran returning to life just needs to be reassured that their life is no longer in danger and they no longer have to worry and that they should relax and enjoy their life.
ReplyDeletethey will help them by letting them understand that they are not the only ones going through a depression.the solders might think they can make it on there on.i would say that the things they feel and wont to do are the things almost all solders go through and will go away
ReplyDeleteThese articles could help the soilders. They could give them hope and also show them that they are doing good. The programs could also help them after the war. Some soilders believe that they don't need the help. Some don't even know that they need help. I would like to tell these soilders that they will get through whats going on and that if they need help to get it, because that is what it might take.
ReplyDeleteIt make help paul and his soliders how to control all the anger they have towards there enemies, comrads, sergents, & everybody else that they are angry at. They could also learn how not to take everything out and that sometimes its good to let out your emtions. & not to be so caught up in war, because war isnt everything. These programs i believe will defintely help not all but most people who have came back from war to live close to a cilivian life...everyday.
ReplyDeleteNot every solider participates in program like these because they really dont want to and they quickly think that its not going help havin a negative attitude. Others just want to feel in charge and rather not let some doofus tell them what to do.
The Rev. John Morris, a chaplain who is overseeing the Minnesota Guard's Soldier reintegration program, said Soldiers returning from combat have trouble "going from an austere, institutionalized setting in the military to the multitasking setting of civilian life." Having read this made me think how diffcult it would be for a solider to come bac him and start acting like nothing really happen. in the article in metion that most of the time they have destructive behavior and angry outburst at children and spouses; hyper activity like driving to fast.
To prevent this i would think soliders should sign up for classes that would help them lower there anger and to help control there anger, & of course take marriage cousling before anything gets out of control.
The type of programs could greatly help Paul and the others readjust to society and their role in it. It wouldn't make the transition to civilians such a jarring and emotionally unstable time. These types of programs would help them to unlearn skills that, while useful in the field, only cause trouble at home.
ReplyDeleteSoldiers do not enter these programs for various reasons. They may not know about them or not have access; some thing may disqualify them. They could feel that t is unnecessary or that only weaklings need help. Their training has conditioned them against talking about their issues.
To help prepare a veteran to return civilian life I would go to their family and create a stable environment before they even arrived. I would research counselors and recommend them to the veteran. I would try to use proven methods, and gradually adjust them to civilian life. It would be a very time consuming process, but would greatly improve the veteran's life, and the lives of those around them.
These kinds of programs may help the soldiers deal with a different lifestyle, because living at home is very different than living on the front. It may help get them accustomed to home and "normal" life.
ReplyDeleteNot every soldier participates in these programs because they may not think that they would be beneficial. They probably think that they will be okay coming home without even realizing the severity of their problems.
I would tell a soldier to take it easy at first. Relax and get in the swing of things. Take advice from other people, and remember that you are no different than anyone else. You can be normal too, it just takes a little bit to get accustomed to new situations.